Page 39 of Shar: A Woman Alone

“I seem to remember a bright young woman that would hand outbacon sandwiches in the mornings, many moons ago. I often wondered whathappened to her?” Sharp raises his eyebrows at Josie.

“She got sidetracked by some awful people, but she has beenresurfacing more and more lately. I don’t like what I’ve become, Pres, andseeing Lira enjoying her time in the kitchen reminded me of what it used to belike in there. The others are going to give me a hard time for making somethingof myself, but if you give me this chance, I won’t disappoint you, and thosebitches can go to hell for all I care.” Josie seems to sit up straighter as herbackbone suddenly becomes a spine again.

“Okay then. As of this moment, you are off limits to thebrothers. I’ll let you have the pleasure of informing them as and whennecessary and Shar, can you introduce Lira to her new assistant, please?”

“You know what, Sharp? I think that will be one of the mostsatisfying things I will have done since I got here.” Jumping up, I grabJosie’s hand and we both damn near skip back to the kitchen.

Taking Lira to one side, I explain what’s just been agreed,and she beams at Josie. “Go get showered and dressed in some normal day-to-dayclothes and then get back here. We’ll get you started right away on basichygiene standards and food prep.” Josie stands there a moment and just as sheturns to leave, Lira grabs her arm. “Josie. I only meant get yourself cleanedup for your first day at a new job, nothing more. I didn’t mean any referenceto your previous employment. Those days are gone and we won’t refer back tothem. Okay?”

“Okay,” Josie smiles at Lira and then disappears from thekitchen. I hear a lot of phones beeping from the rec room and then Crack showsup and shoves his phone in my hand.

Pres: Josie is off limits to all officers and brothers.For any clarification, speak to Shar or Lira.

“Yep. Josie has been promoted to kitchen prep from now on.Out of bounds to all of you lecherous lot,” I growl at him.

“Not kitchen prep. Assistant cook,” says Lira. “She won’t belong before she runs the kitchen while I have my rest days, if I have anythingto do with it.”

“Call her what you will. She’s all yours now, Lira.” Smilingat what has started out as a hell of a day, I link arms with Crack and we headout on our next adventure. Tattoo shop, here we come!

As we leave the clubhouse, I see Crack look longingly at hishog. “Not on your life, Crack. You can if you want, but I am not riding bitch!”Following me to my SUV, I laugh at his ‘little boy lost’ look.

Arriving at the tattoo shop, I can’t help but be impressedwith the look of the place. I don’t know what I was expecting, but most tattooshops are fairly rough looking and normally decorated in black and white.Everything here has color to it, which makes it look very inviting. I can’twait to get inside and see the designs on offer.

Inside it is very clinical, but in a cleanliness kind of wayrather than a hospital thing. The walls are unusually bare except for picturesof Scribe and Needle. Below each picture are framed certificates of theirqualifications. There is a waiting area with what I assume are folderscontaining some of the generic designs available, or personalized work that theartists have carried out.

There is a small reception desk that, although it is off toone side, it clearly defines the work area from the waiting area. Both workstations are in use and I’m surprised again as it’s still quite early. Scribelooks up and gives both Crack and I a chin lift.

“Can’t stop right now, guys. Anything I can do for you fromhere?”

“Quite the opposite. I came to see if I could do anythingfor you and the shop?” Raising my eyebrows, I wait for a barrage ofsuggestions.

“Only thing we really need is a receptionist. Got one inyour purse that we can have?” Needle throws at me from the second station.

Walking to the shop's front window, I watch the number ofpedestrians that walk by. There are certainly a lot of shoppers that pass by inboth directions.

“Got a printer in this place?” I shout as I head for thereception desk.

“Right where you’re headed. The computer is fired up, too.Knock yourself out.”

Sitting at the computer, it only takes a couple of minutesto knock up a sign for the front window, advertising for the position ofreceptionist. Once it’s up in a prominent position, we leave them to it andCrack and I move on to our next stop, the diner.

Pulling up in the parking lot at the front of the diner, Iswitch off the engine and sit there, taking it all in. After the tattoo shop, Iguess I was expecting too much for the diner to be as well presented, althoughI do remember it looking better than this.

“Crack! Didn’t you guys buy this business from Axel?”

“Erm, yeah, we did. It doesn’t look like I remember it, Ihave to say. I haven’t been here for a while. I think we need to find out who’sbeen collecting the cash from here and checking the books. There’s been nothingsaid in church about it needing a paint job.”

“Let’s hope the inside hasn’t been left to go to seed likethe outside.” Taking the lead, I exit the SUV and head into the diner.Entering, I’m relieved to see that the inside is a far cry from its exterior.The booths and tables are all covered with clean tablecloths, and the menus arein holders. The countertop looks clean, and there are several guys sittingthere, watching us, each with a coffee or a meal in front of them.

Walking to a booth near the front window, I feel like a fishin an aquarium as all eyes follow us. Waiting for a server to come over, I’msurprised when a man, who is obviously the cook just by the fact he has anapron on, heads over to us.

“You’re a week early. The books ain’t done and the cashain’t ready.”

Crack stands up and towers over the cook who, to his credit,doesn’t flinch. “We’re not here for either, so wind your neck in, before I doit for you.”

“Well, that’s a fucking wonder. It’s the only time we eversee any of you guys, but any time you feel you’re up to the task, there’s a bigenough lot outside where you can bring your friends to help you. Crack, is it?”The cook makes a point of looking at Crack’s cut, then walks back to hiskitchen.

A server comes over and asks if we’d like to order. Lookingat her name badge, I ask, “Hi, Madison. Two coffees and two specials, please.And before you go. What just happened?”

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